New Zealand: New Zealand has people from different beliefs and cultures, as said by the PM Jacinda Ardern – there are 200 different ethnicities in NZ.
According to reports, the first Muslims in New Zealand came in 1850s and it was an Indian family. Since then many muslims migrated to NZ and the percentage of Muslims rised in 1960s. In 1990s,many refugees fled from their home country to escape wars. The first Islamic Centre was opened in 1959 for all the Muslims living in New Zealand. At present there are many mosques and two Islamic schools.
Islam is considered to be the fastest growing religion in New Zealand. According to census 2013, a national population of 4.2 million was recorded and 46,000 of them were Muslims. The figures were increased by 30 percent since 2006 and by 2019 many people reverted to Islam making the number higher than it previously was.
The Chief Police of New Zealand is a revert herself and while addressing the crowd she said, ” “I am a proud Muslim and I am a leader in the NZ Police and I am horrified at the events in Christchurch.”
“I know this is a very very distressing time for our Muslim community in particular, but to everyone in our communities,” she added.
